Switch-housing structure



June 30, 1925.. 1,544,166

\ W. M. SCOTT SWITCH HOUSING STRUCTURE Original Filed Oct. 2, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y/JZW 2. M

12,; Whi 62M Z4 ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1925..

unrrsn sate innit I SWITCH-HOUSING STRUC'EUEE.

brig-incl application filed October 2,1919, Serial no. 328,056. Divided and. this application filed. ma 22, 1920. Serial No. 383,362.

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM Sco'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing in Tredyfirin Township, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have vices.

It is the object of my invention. to pro- I vide switching or automatic circuit breaker mechanism, or the like, mounted upon a suitable support or base, together with a housing, of which saidbase or support may be one wall, into and from which extend the supply and consumption circuit conductorsj it is a further object of m invention to provide structure of the c aracter referred to in which the housing is a support for the switch base or support, for the switching or circuit breaker mechanism carried thereby, and for any other structure carried by such switch base or support; and it is a further object of m invention to provide with structure 0 the character referred to a second housing for the switching or circuit breaking mechanism carried b the base or support for the switching or circuit breaker mechanism.

To these ends I have devised structure of the character hereinafter described, and one of many forms of, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 is a side elevational view of structure embodying my invention, a wall of each of the housings being in part removed for the sake OfgClBflIIlGSS.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the front wall of the second housing being in part removed.

Referring to the drawings, 13 is a base or support, preferably of slate or other suitable insulating material, upon one side.

of which is mounted the switching mechanism which, in the example illustrated, is an automatic circuit breaker mechanism comprising two switching mechanisms or switch arms A and B, disposed side by side upon the base 13; it is to be understood, however, that my inco-operating vention' is not limited to the particular character'of the switching or circuit breaker mechanism, and is in no way limited to the number of arms or switching mechanisms employed. In the example illustrated, the two switch arms are substan tially similar in. structure, and therefore a description of one will 'sufice for the other, the parts in the arm B corresponding to those in the arm A having reference characters similar to those in the arm A with the addition of prime marks.

Referring to arm A, it comprises the mainupper and lower terminal blocks 1 and 2, normally engaged and bridged ,by the movable laminated contact member 3 carried by the arm 21, the latter carrying also the movable shunt carbon contact a I with the stationary shunt carbon contact 5.

,The laminated bridging member 3 is carried by the arm 21 pivoted at 22 upon a bracket secured to the base 13. The arm 21 is operated by a toggle comprising the link 23 pivoted to the base at '24 and at 26 to the link member 25, which in turn is pivoted at 27 to the aforesaid arm 21. The toggle structure thus formed holds the bridging member 3 in circuit closing position indicated, and is held in such position by the latch 6 engaging the pin or roller,

7 carried by the toggle" member 25, and pivoted to a back bracket secured upon base 13. Upon the pin 29 carried by member 25 is a roller 30. I

. The main terminals 1 and 1 are respectively secured upon the base 13 by the studs 19 and 19 extending through the base to the rea-r thereof.

The stud 20 extends from the rear of the base 13 through the same and connects with one terminal of the winding or coil of the electro-magnet 32 whose other terminal connects by conductor 32, Fig. 2, with the lower main terminal 2 of the breaker arm A. The lower main terminal 2' of the breaker arm B is secured to the base 13 by the stud 20' extending through the base to the rear thereof.

At the rear is the housing 11, preferably of sheet steel, which is'adapted to be secured, as by screws 12, 12 to any supporting structure, as a pillar, beam or the like. To the housing 11 is secured the base 13,

the hou ing 11 then serving, if desired, as the support for the base 13 and the parts carried thereby, including the switchlng mechanism and the second housing herein-. after referred to. .The base 13 may be supported upon or secured to the housing 11 by screws a extending through the base from the front thereof and engaging. in members or brackets b secured to the housing 11. y

Through opposite side or end walls 11 and 11 of the housing 11 extend conduits 15 and 15, respectively. Upon the threaded end of each of these conduits are the nuts 18 and 18, between which are clamped the housing 11 and ending in terminals such as 16%, secured to the, aforesaid studs 19-and 19", as by nuts 16".

To the studs 20 and 20 are similarly secured by nuts 20 and terminals 20 upon the ends of the insulated conductors l7 and 17'," these conductors entering and extending through the conduit 15 to the consumption circuit.

It will accordingly be understood that, in the example illustrated, the circuit through the arm A is from conductor 16, through stud 19, upper terminal block 1, bridging member 3, lower terminal block 2,through the winding of the electro-ma'gnet 32, to stud 20 and thence to one side of the consumption circuit through, the conductor 17 and the circuit through the arm B is from the other supply circuit conductor 16, through stud 19, to the upper terminal 1 through the bridging member 3' to the lower terminal block 2' through the stud 20 and conductor 17' to the other side of the consumption circuit,

(lo-operating with the electro-magnet 32 is the pivoted armature 33, to which is secured the transversely extending bar 8 having at its ends the members 9 and 9 adapted to cause actuation of the restraining latches of the switch arms and B, when the magnet 32 is energized by excessive current flowing through the structure described.

Secured to the base 13, as by screws 0 engaging in brackets 1i, and enclosing or housing the circuit breaker mechanism described, is the housing H, preferably of sheet steel, having the door 3 pivoted at 57. The door may be locked closed b 1" a padlock 74 or the like engaging in the hook and 69 of the arm carried by and pivoted upon the door 37. Through the staple 68 carried by the housing H extends the hook end 69 of the member 70.

Pivoted upon and carried by the door 37 is the member 46, having the operators handie 43, and carrying the pin 57 which may be embraced by a padlock 59 extending through the staple 58 carried by the door 37, so as to prevent operation of the member 46.

On the inner side of the door 37 the member 46 carries the arms 39 and 40, upon which are pivoted, respectively, the rollers 41 and 42 adapted to engage the rollers 30 and 30 of the different switch arms to actuate them to circuit closing position in succession. A spring 56 attached at one end to the door 37 and at its other end at 55 to the member 46 returns the member 46 to neutral or central position.

Carried by the door 37 is the push button 34 adapted to actuate the push rod35, which in turn actuates the pivoted member 36, which actuates the armature 33 for manually tripping the circuit breaker mechanism.

The structure described therefore 'comprises a base carrying switching mechanism or the like secured to a housing on the opposite side thereof from the switching mechapnism, with connections to the switching in conduit structure or the like.

By structure of the character'described complete protection is afforded not only to the switching mechanism by its housing, but also for all the connections leading to the apparatus as a whole, no conducting parts being exposed, and one of the housings serving to support the entire structure.

lhis application is a division from my application Ser. No. 328,056, filed October 2, 1919, upon which have issued Letters Patent No. 1,480,306.

What I claim is:

1, The combination with a plurality of independent housings, of a base of insulating material separating and secured to them, automatic circuit breaker mechanism within one of said housings upon one side of said base, connecting means extending from said mechanism through said base into another of said housings, said base forming a closure wall of said other of said housings, conduit structure communicating with said other of said housings, and conductors ea- .tcnding throu h said conduit structure into said housing or effecting electrical communication with said connecting means.

2. The combination with a plurality of nae-taco housings, of a base oil" insulating material constituting 'a wall separating and common to them, one of said housings carrying said base and another of said housings carried by said base, automatic circuit breaker mechanism within said other of -said housings carried upon oneside of said base,

connecting means extending from said mechanism through said base into said one of said housings, and conductors extending into said one of said housings for effecting electrical communication with said connecting, means.

3. The combination with a plurality of housings, of a base common to and secured to them, automaticv circuit breaker mechanism within one of said housings upon one housing for effecting electrical communication withsaid connecting means, and means carried by a wall of said one of said housings' operable from the exterior thereof for actuating said mechanism. 1

4. The combination with a plurality of housings, of a base common tothein, one of said housings carrying said base and. another of said housings carried by said base, automatic circuit breaker mechanism within said other of said housings carried upon one side of said base, connecting means extending from said mechanism through saidbase into said one of said housings, conductors extending into said one of said housings for eitecting electrical communication with said connecting means, and means carried by said other of said housings and operable from the exterior thereof for actuating said mechanism. I

5. The combination with a plurality v.ot housings disposed side by side, of a base of insulating material constituting a closure vWall common to said housings and separating them, automatic circuit breaker mechanism in one at said housings onone side of 7 said base,-studs from said switchin mechanism extending through said base rate the other of said housings, conduit structure communicating with said other of said housings, conductors in said conduit structure for (infecting electrical connection with said studs, and means securingsaid other of said housings to a support, said base and said one of said housings carried by said other of said housings.

8. The combination with a plurality oi housings disposed side by side, of a base of insulating material disposed. in vertical position and constituting a Wall common to and closing said housings and separating them from each othenmeans for securing one of said housings to a support, said base secured to said one of said. housings independently of said securing means, another of said hous ings secured to said base, automatic circuit breaker mechanism in said other of said housings secured upon said base, studs extending from said mechanism through said base into one of said housings, conduit structure communicating with said one of" said housings, and conductors, in said conduits extending free of said one of said housings to said studs.

7, The combination with a plurality of housings, of a base forming a wall common to them, circuit breaker mechanism within one of said housings upon one side of said base, connecting means extending from said mechanism. through said base into another of said housings, conductors extending from the exterior into said other of said housings for edecting electrical communication with said connecting means, a hinged door forming a wall of said oneof said housings, and

means carried by said door for resetting said circuit breaker mechanism,

8. The combination with a plurality of housings, of a base of insulating material constituting a closure wall common to said housings and separating them, switching mechanism in one of said housings on one side of said base, connections from said switching mechanism through said base into another of saidhousings, conductors ex tending from the exterior into said other of said housings for efifccting electrical communication with said connections, said one of said housings having a pivoted door means carried by and movable with said door for actuating said switching mechanism, and means securing said other of said housings to a sup-port, said base and said tilt":

one of said housings carried by said other of said housings.

9. An electrical protective unit comprising a base member, automatic circuit breaker mechanism secured to one side of said base member, a housing enclosing said mechanism and secured. to said base member, conductors extending from said mechanism through said base member, a second-housing secured to the other sideot said base member, and conductors extending from the exterior into said second housing tor efifecting electrical. conunu'nication with said first named conductors,

10. An electrical protective unit comprising a base member, automatic circuit breaker mechanism secured toone side of said base member, a housing enclosing said mechanism and secured to said base member, conductors extending from said mechanism through said base member, a second housing secured to the other side of said base member and adapted to receive conductors for edecting electrical communication with said lid first named conductors, and means for attaching said second of said housings to a support.

11. An electrical protective unit comprising a pair of housings, a base of insulatin material forming a common Wall of sai housings, automatic circuit breaker mechanism secured upon said base in one of said housings and accessible Without entry into the other of said housings, connectors extending from said circuit breaker mechanism through said base into said other of 'said housings, conductors extending from the exterior into said other of said housings, to effect electrical communication with said connectors, and ,means for attaching said other of said housings \to a support for supporting the unit.

12. An electrical protective unit comprissecured to said base within one of said hous-V ings and controllable from the exterior of sald one of said housings, connectors extending from said circuit breaker mechanism through said base into the other of said housings, said connectors supported by said base and terminating short of the wall of said other of said housings opposite to said base, and conductorsextending from the exterior into said other of said housings to said connectors.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature this 21st day of May,

WILLIAM M. SCOTT. 

